Robert Rokuro Taira, the King of Hawaiian Sweet Bread.
05 November 1923 - 29 May 2003

Robert was born on the Big Island to immigrant parents who immigrated to work at Kohala Plantation in 1906.  During World War II, he was a translator.  When he came back to the Big Island, he opened Robert's Bakery in 1950 in Hilo.  In 1963 he moved his bakery and coffeeshop to 1936 S King St and named it King's Hawaiian Bakery.  He expanded to Eaton Square and the Kaimuki Shopping Center.

His sights were always on a bigger future for the bakery and in 1977, he built a 30,000 square foot wholesale bakery, King's Hwaiian Bakery in Torrance, CA.  He became the leading maker of sweet bread nationwide.  In 2003, he built a larger 150,000 square foot facility in Los Angeles.

Robert Taira was a visionary.  He built an empire from Robert's Bakery in Hilo to a company that employs over 300 people and sells its products in 50 major markets across the US.  The King Street coffee shop closed in 1993.  He died in 2003.  His son Mark is now CEO of the company.

Article from Discover Nikkei:  http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2011/9/13/kings-hawaiian/